Magnetic clutch for automobile signals



Dec. 7 1926.

G. W.'MICHAEL MAGNETIC CLUTCH FOR AUTOMOBILE SIGNALS Filed May 2, 1925 aupewlfoz affozuma Patented Dec. 1926. 1

S esses wa e -mt PENNSYLVANIA? 1 mzterisrrobnnroirron fAnr'oMoBiLn-srenens; Y 9

v f This I invention relates to magnetic clutches adaptedfor use with-automobile signals to indicate intended motements .of.

the vehicle. i In some respects it is anime provement on the signal shown. andfllde? scribed inmy pending applicationfiled May 22, 1923, Serial No. G l- 0,677. I The objectof .thepresent invention is to improve and simplify the construction of such signals, the structure as compared to the apparatus shown in said application embracing fewer parts, and capable 'of much cheaper construction, and involving a simple clutch arrangement operated by an electromagnet when the signal is actuated. The operatin Il'lQCllfiIllSIIljEOI the signal includes 7 a reversible motor so controlled that when a turn in one direction is intended the in+ dicatingarm or semaphore will point in that" direction; and similarly when turned in the other direction.- The apparatus includes electric lamps and'colored lenses fornight V indication. A'suitable sw1tch 1s employed to control the operation" of the motor and magnet. 1

-The accompanying drawing is a side elevation of the a paratus, partly in sect on. In the embod ment, shown, the construction includes a cup-shaped casing .6, which the-switch is closed, either automatically or. otherwise'to close themotor circuitaccordingfto the direction of turn. This sta-rts' t-he "motor which thru the worm gearing drives may be mounted on the rear- 0f the vehicle or elsewhere in any convenient manner.

The rear wall of the casing consists of a plate 8fwhich is boltedas indicated at 9 to a plate 10 which has a bearing 11 for one end of a shaft 12 whichextends' across the casing, preferablyat thecenter, thereof,

; and at its other end hasmounted thereon a semaphore arm 13; The rear bearing for the shaft 12 is indicated at 18,1fastened to the back plate 8.

An electric motor bracket on the back plate 8, and the shaft of this motor has a worm21' which meshes with a worm gear 22 which is loose on the shaft12, being confinedlby acollar 23. I This worm gear forms one member of a friction clutch the other member of which consists of a disc 24 with a friction ring 25 which closes against the side of the gear 22 to be driven by the latter. 1 Springs 26, fixedlto the side of the rear wallof the worm gear, tend to open the clutch. The disc 24: forms the end wall of a sleeve or spool 27 which is slidable on the shaft 12. The, other end of the spool consists of a member 28 nection .betn' een the sleeve and the shaft.

is proceeding without turning:

19 supported. by a jectithef ends of afpin extendingv thru the. shaft 12 and formmg the; drivlng conl Surroundin the. sleeve '27 is a ma neticcil 32,.s'upportedlby1a hanger: .833 which is-iixed to the bolts9 as shownin the drawing; lhe member 28 of the spool or sleeve constitutes in effect the armature of themagn'et and is actuated by the latter to throw the clutch V in when the magnet is energized. "At other; I [times the springs 26 open the clutch. V V The magnet and motor circuits are all controlled by a suitable switch known in the f art which may be actuated to drive the motor 1n either direction and at the. same time to close the magnet circuit and the'lainp' circuit. This switch may-b'e'of the automatic type, operated by movement of the steering wheel, or it may be a hand-operated switch, both of which are known in the art and require no illustration or description since the inventionris not directed thereto.

The semaphore arm 13 has an adjustable counterweight 50 which tends to swing the arm to vertical position, as when the vehicle In operation, when a. turn is to" be'made,

by forming a friction clutchwhich causes ,the'sleeve 27 to rotate'with the geai- 22,, and

the driving pin 31 causes the shaft-.12 to turn I on ithe..sleevc, .and:thisimemher28 ha'sahub 29fwith' slots 30intolwhich proand swing the semaphore arm 13 in the desired direction. 7 Since the motor 1 continues to run While the main switch 1s closed the gear 22 will continue to turn, but the friction clutch permits this without wrecking the'apparatus, the necessary-slip takingplace between the gear 22 and the friction rim'25. When the main switch is opened, as when the vehicle is turned to straight direction,

the springs 26 open the. clutch, and the weight restores'the semaphore arm to uprightposition. 7' When a turn is made in the other direction, the motor is actuated in the reverse direction and the arm is swung the other way, the other operations being simi lUU 'lar. The slot 30 permits the necessary axial movement of the sleeve to open or close the clutch;

The invention is not limited to the particnlar form of appartns shown, but Various modifications are possible within the scope of the following claim. Thus the particular mechanism described is capable 01 use in connection with a railway signal or the like. It may also be mentioned that when the present aparat-us is used on an automobile a stop indication may be given by so manipnlating the switch thatthe motor will be reversedrepeatedly, thereby causing a repeat ed swing of the semaphore, first in one direction an-d'then in the other, the oscillation of the semaphore indicating an intent to stop.

7 I claim':

The combination with a shaft, of an electric motor, a gear loose on the shaft and driven by the motor, a magnet coilmonnted in fix'edposition around the shaft-,a sleeve slidable lengthwiseon the shaft within said coil, a friction disc carried at one end of the sleeve and adapted to be moved outwardly from the coil into contact with the gear whenthe lna g netis energized, an armature disecari'ied by the other end of the sleeve and adapted to be moved toward thecoil when the latter is energized, and a spring between the gear and the friction disc adapted to move the latter out of contact with the former when the magnet is deenergized.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa enonen w, MICHAEL.

. ture.

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